The ad notes that when Gardner first ran for Congress in 2010, he told the Fort Collins Coloradan he wasn’t going to sponsor legislation on abortion, although the paper claims he told Tea Party groups he would sponsor legislation. As a congressman, Gardner in 2012 sponsored the “Life Begins at Conception Act.”

Gardner’s views have been national news ever since The Denver Post revealed last Friday that Gardner had switched his position on personhood, saying it was wrong to have supported the ballot measures because he now agrees with critics that they outlawed some forms of birth control. Gardner said he still opposes abortion.

The division in the Colorado Republican Party over abortion was apparent during the Jeffco GOP assembly when a low-key nomination for a state House seat turned into a passionate debate on abortion.

Nate Marshall, a construction manager, was the lone GOP candidate for the seat now held by Rep. Max Tyler, D-Lakewood. At the House District 23 assembly Saturday, delegate John Darrow asked Marshall where he stood on abortion.

“100 percent opposed,” Marshall said, drawing gasps and comments from from the audience.

Cheryl Wise loudly proclaimed that this is exactly why Republicans are losing elections, and she said she would have to vote for the Democrat in the race. Others chimed in in agreement, including a man and a woman who were clearly senior citizens.

“The problem is too many Republicans out there think like I do but they won’t speak up,” Wise, 59, said afterward.

House Republicans on Thursday unveiled a measure that would outlaw abortion and make it a felony were a health care provider to administer such a procedure, drawing ire from Democrats who castigated it as meddling “in the private relationship between a woman and her doctor.”

Rep. Steve Humphrey, R-Severance.

House Bill 1133 is sponsored by Rep. Steve Humphrey, R-Severance, and a handful of Republicans, including Rep. Perry Buck of Windsor, and House Minority Leader Brian DelGrosso of Loveland.

“We’re losing the sanctity of life in this country,” said Buck, whose husband, Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck, is among a field of Republicans vying for the GOP U.S. Senate nomination this year. “Alternatives to abortion are what I will support.”

The bill would make it a class 3 felony for a health care provider to administer an abortion. The only exceptions would be if a doctor said the woman’s life is in danger or if a doctor “provides medical treatment to the mother that results in the accidental or unintentional injury or death to the unborn child.” Rape or incest is not an exception under the bill.

A pregnant woman struck by a hit-and-run driver in Denver’s Stapleton neighborhood in 2011 lost her baby and served as the inspiration for a bill at the Capitol. (The Denver Post)

To no one’s surprise, a bill aimed at charging offenders who kill a pregnant woman’s baby during a crime — such as a drunken-driving crash — turned into a debate on abortion in the Senate.

It’s the third year in a row lawmakers have tackled the subject, and each time abortion has become an issue.

Under Colorado law, if a woman’s baby is killed during a crime there is no way to charge the offender. That would change under House Bill 1154, which received initial approval in the Democratic-controlled Senate. The bill creates new offenses for unlawful termination of pregnancy.

It already has passed the House, where it received strong bi-partisan support although opponents also raised the abortion issue. A formal vote is expected Monday in the Senate.

Republican Congressman Mike Coffman Wednesday night had to again deal with his past support of a controversial anti-abortion measure, as it remains in the spotlight with ballots set to arrive in the mailboxes of voters next week.

At a bipartisan congressional candidate forum, sponsored by the Jewish Community Relations Council, a question from the audience posed to the 6th Congressional District candidates asked if they support a Personhood policy that grants human rights to a fetus.

Coffman, appearing visibly upset at the question, gave a terse reply.

“I’m pro-life. I do believe in protecting the life of the mother,” said Coffman. “I’ve never focused on social issues.”

State Rep. Joe Miklosi released his second TV ad Wednesday, again honing his attack against Republican Rep. Mike Coffman in their battle for the 6th Congressional District.

But unlike Miklosi’s first ad where he was doing all the talking, this go-around it’s men and women — old and young — who are delivering the message.

The folks featured in Miklosi’s add assail Coffman for his vote on the Ryan budget, which groups on the left argue will end Medicare, and for his support of the Personhood amendment and stance against abortion.

Editor’s note: Throughout this election season, we will be regularly analyzing campaign claims via our political polygraph.

After a summer filled with vitriolic ads saying President Obama is “this” or Mitt Romney did “that,” it’s now trickled down — as would be expected — to congressional races here in Colorado as we enter fall.

In the wake of comments by Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., about “legitimate rape”– which drew nationwide criticism — Democrats are now highlighting legislation he and Republican Rep. Mike Coffman co-sponsored in the U.S. House that could have redefined rape.

Coffman, who is running for re-election in the Aurora-based 6th Congressional District, is among many House Republicans who in 2011 co-sponsored the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortions Act.” The measure examined redefining a ban on federal funding for abortions to exempt only “forcible rape” — and not rape in more broader terms.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee targeted both Coffman and Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. — the running mate of presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney — Monday for their support of the measure.

Rick Santorum’s campaign today announced that the Duggar family from the TLC cable TV show “19 and Kids and Counting” are touring the country in support of the candidate and are heading to Michigan to build support ahead of Tuesday’s Republican presidential primary.

The Duggar family is devoutly religious and espouses conservative values. In a video on the Duggar family website, the matriarch of the family, Michelle, explains why the family is supporting the former Senator from Pennsylvania.

“As a husband and father of seven children, Rick has been a strong advocate for families,” she says. “And as U.S. senator, Rick Santorum wrote the bill that ended partial birth abortion.”

She said as president he will “promote drilling” for oil and natural gas in America, and he will be a strong advocate for seniors and the unborn.

On Tuesday, Pam Tebow hit Yakima, Wash., speaking to about 1,000 people at a fundraiser for the local nonprofit, Image Point Mobile Medical Services, that wants to raise $300,000 to outfit a mobile van with ultrasound equipment to provide pregnant women with pictures of their fetuses with the hope of preventing abortions.

Lynn Bartels thinks politics is like sports but without the big salaries and protective cups. The Washington Post's "The Fix" blog has named her one of Colorado's best political reporters and tweeters.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.